John Stacy "Cooter" Wacaser
John Stacy "Cooter" Wacaser, 52, of Ripley, Mississippi, died on April 26, 2021, while held at the Tippah County Jail. Sheriff Karl Gaillard's office and Tippah County Coroner Chris McCallister said he was found hanging in his cell that evening. A news report described his death as a suicide, a manner the officials had not yet confirmed. The coroner said he did not believe foul play was involved, and his body was sent for an autopsy. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation then took over the case, and the manner of death remained pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide. A news report calls his death a suicide after the sheriff and coroner said he was found hanging in his cell, and the coroner said he did not believe foul play was involved while the autopsy was pending.
Reported by: Sheriff Karl Gaillard (the agency that held him); Tippah County Coroner Chris McCallister (medical examiner or coroner); news report.